In summary
• China dominates with the Maglev at 431 km/h, followed by the French TGV and the Japanese shinkansen.
• Absolute record: 603 km/h reached by the Japanese Maglev in testing, not commercial speed.
• Technical and ecological limits slow down the speed, the future focuses on comfort and reliability.
On some railways, the speed is no longer measured only in kilometers per hour, but in chills per minute. In the global competition for high -speed rail, China, Japan and France Play elbows, each claiming technological supremacy. Behind the figures hides a real image war, where each country wants to prove that it is capable of having its passengers spinning at speeds worthy of an aircraft takeoff. So, who of the Chinese Maglev, the Japanese shinkansen or the French TGV really boast of being the undisputed champion?
Kings of commercial speed: the official podium
At the top of the ranking established by the business insider, difficult to dethrone the Shanghai Maglev Train. This little gem of magnetic levitation goes to 431 km/h On its specially designed rails, connecting Pudong to the city in 7 minutes. No friction, no wheels noise: an impression of sliding on an air cushion.
Behind, China also offers the silver medal with the Fuxing CR400AF/BF“classic” high speed train (with wheels) launched at 350 km/h On lines like Beijing – Shanghai.
France remains solidly installed on the podium: the TGV Duplex, network, POS or Euroduplex reached 320 km/h in commercial service. Same performance for Japan with its Shinkansen series E5, H5 and E6, and for Germany with theICE 3. In Spain, the AVE Class 103 point 310 km/h.
Result: China dominates, but our TGVs are still part of the global cream, well above the average of European trains.
When science flirts with madness: absolute records
If we forget for a moment the constraints of everyday life, the figures become dizzying.
In 2007, France signed a historical feat: the TGV POS reached 574.8 km/h During operation V150 on the East LGV. A rocket speed … but a few tens of kilometers and with a modified train.
Japan, for its part, won the absolute record in 2015: its L0 Series Maglev posted 603 km/h During tests on the future Chūō Shinkansen line between Tokyo and Osaka.
These speeds flirt with science fiction, but they are not intended for daily use. They serve as a technological showcase, a rolling laboratory and … planetary stroke.
Why don’t you drive every day at 500 km/h
Rolling faster is not always synonymous with driving better. Three main reasons you slow down the speed race. First of all, infrastructure wear : Beyond 320 km/h, rails, catenary and wheels suffer, and maintenance becomes a financial chasm. Ensuite, energy : Pushing a train to 400 km/h consumes much more, which increases the ecological bill and that of tickets.
Finally, the overall economy : operators prefer to optimize the frequencies and regularity that scratching for a few minutes at the cost of an astronomical budget. Morality: Better a reliable, comfortable and fast train … than a racing car reserved for records.
The future is already played: new generations in sight
Even if commercial speed seems to cap today, projects for the future still promise thrills. In China, the prototype CR450 is in testing with tips at 450 km/h and a goal of 400 km/h in operation. More aerodynamic, lighter and less energy -consuming, he wants to push the limits again.
In Japan, the Chūō Shinkansen with magnetic levitation, supposed to connect Tokyo to Osaka in 67 minutes, aims 500 km/h in commercial service. Initially scheduled for 2027, the project was late and could only open in 2034.
What about France? If it remains cautious about pure speed, it relies on the modernization of its TGV: more comfortable, more economical, and integrated into a European network expanding. Because the challenge, now, is no longer just to break records … but to seduce travelers with a complete experience. The real question may not be “who is the fastest?”, But “who will invent the train that will make you dream?”… While arriving on time.